Whole Foods not revealing much about new Silver Lake 365 store as construction begins

SILVER LAKE — The parking lot next to the former Ralphs supermarket on Glendale Boulevard has been turned into an obstacle course, with construction barriers blocking off a large section of the lot as work begins on building Whole Food’s first 365 store.

The 365 team is still developing store features and we cannot share much detail just yet, but are excited about what the store will offer the Silver Lake community. This location will offer innovations and quality similar to what customers would find at a Whole Foods Market store, but they will be streamlined and presented in an updated, operationally efficient format, which takes into account the needs, desires and demographics of the area’s residents.

In addition to building the new 365 store in the former Ralphs space, the entire shopping center in the 2500 block of Glendale Boulevard is getting a new facade while the CVS and a few other stores remain open.

The businesses and services in the directory have not been reviewed nor are they endorsed by The Eastsider. Users are responsible for taking care to investigate any offers, products or services provided by businesses listed in the directory.

36 comments

I believe that the 365 store is an experiment to try to go after the Trader Joe’s section of the market. The problem is that Silver Lake already has a great Trader Joe’s so a regular Whole Foods would have served the community much better in terms of giving more variety of foods and goods. Some people like the idea of 365 since it is more “value-oriented”. However, a regular Whole Foods would still have the 365 brand generic options in addition to the more pricey options. This change to 365 store just limits our options as consumers.

If it’s a normal-sized Whole Foods, then even a 365 store would likely have a ton of non-365 options. I rarely shop at Trader Joe’s, and I want a normal Whole Foods. But I’m saving my judgment until I walk into the store.

Only in this country , while people are swimming across oceans with their children and nothing but the clothes on their back as refugees fleeing conflict , is there a thread about a damned supermarket! WHO CARES if its a 365 or a “real” Whole Foods? What on earth is the matter with you, seriously. Just be grateful for what you have! Good lord!

@Badlands Don’t be ridiculous. Of course there are tragedies everywhere like the homeless, the refugees, the oppressed. This is not a choice between feeding the homeless OR having a whole foods. This is an article about the choice between 365 and whole foods. Clearly, you clicked on it to read it.

I back Badlands comments, its not about the eastsiders article that keep us informed, its about the cry baby comments about “i want a Real whole foods” give me a break ! Its gone from a hippie laid back artist community to a i want the comforts of the Westside community

I would have preferred a greatly enhanced Ralphs supermarket. This means we’re stuck with high-priced stores in the immediate area: Trader Joes (despite its rep, it’s not that cheap for fresh-food items and the selection is limited), Gelsons, Vons. The alternatives are Super King or a drive to Ralphs in Glendale. Whoever goes in there, this was a missed opportunity in that the entire center should have been leveled and a two-story center with multiple retail spaces built.

Trader Joes is cheap as hell. Yes the selection is not vast but it’s cheap. I never understand why you never see poor people shopping at trader joes. They must be intimidated by all the hipsters into missing out on deals

Personally but I don’t see much difference between Ralph’s and WF’s prices. Yes, Ralph’s does have sales, like a big bag of Lay’s for 2 bucks or two pints of Haagen Dazs for 5 bucks, but their normal prices are pretty high. And yes, WF does have some expensive items, but they also have some very competitively priced items as well. Their store brand is better quality than any other store brand and the prices are relatively low. Their butter, milk, jams, peanut butter, and canned olives are a few examples that come to mind. If you compare the quality and the prices with other store brands, WF is clearly a better value, imo. Even many of the name brands they sell are lower priced than at say Gelson’s, Bristol Farms, or even Ralph’s/Vons.

While many apparently see this as a slap in the face to the community, thinking that if any community deserves a true Whole Foods it is Silver Lake, I see this as yet another welcome alternative to Lassen’s Natural Foods. I haven’t shopped at a Lassen’s since the owner put $30,000 of his own money toward staking his claim as a bigot. It isn’t always convenient to skip over Lassen’s but I do, and whether the new store replacing the Ralphs is a 365 or a Whole Foods I expect it will fit my needs.

Good point. It’s hard to imagine a very decent sized WF when the parking lot isn’t very large. Otherwise, it’s about to get real in the Whole Foods parking lot. Might make parking at the Trader Joe’s on Hyperion actually seem pleasant.

I used to live around the corner and I’ve never seen this lot full (parking takes up more of the lot than the actual buildings.) But I am a little surprised they didn’t just bulldoze and build a mixed-use project here with subterranean parking below and apartments up top… must not be zoned for it.

It’s always interesting to me that no one ever mentions Costco in these threads. They offer quality products (many organic foods/fruits/veggies), great customer service, the best prices, fast cashiers. The trick is to go in after 8pm (shortly before they close), do your shopping and there’s almost never a line. Sure you buy in quantity, but not as much as you would think. I have done almost all my shopping there for a 1-2 person household for many years, and save megabucks. Their $4.99 BBQ chicken & $1.50 Polish with a drink are the best buys around! Their employees are always helpful and efficient.

Yup, completely agree! Or try Tuesday afternoon, a well kept secret . Store is empty! Sometimes I slip through the park and go to the Burbank Costco..very cheap gas, a bit less hectic. Some Costco values include almost all the Kirkland brand stuff, dog food consistently rated 5stars by Dogfood Advisory sites. Organic milk, freeze what you need for later, carrot juice, tofu, vitamins, socks & tee shirts a bargain. And employees are paid/treated well. Works for me!

Yes, absolutely! Love the way they treat their employees. And their photo department is great! They make quality prints at super prices, and their framing is top notch. Anyone who remembers that horrific metro rail accident several years ago on the track next to the store will remember the heroic measures taken by employees and management. They came together to offer help, food/water and support. They always go above and beyond! I think it says a lot that their employees are mostly long term and clearly love working there!

Exactly. It’s just a market. It may have some useful items for sale. That’s about it. Between the styleistas and the real estate bubblers this all takes on a new meaning not so well understood by ordinary folk.

I like Super King and Costco. The only thing I buy at Trader Joe’s is Clif Bars for 99¢ each. When this 365 store opens, I will check it out. I have actually never been inside a Whole Foods Market, so I don’t know what I am missing, but even having said that, in all honesty, I would have preferred if Silver Lake was getting a Sprouts.

I remember thinking back when it was disclosed that Whole Foods was going to open in Silverlake that I would be 40 by the time the store opened. I’m now 40 1/2, we shouldn’t worry about what kind of Whole Foods its going to be as we’ll all be dead based on how long it takes to get anything approved and done in LA.

But you have to admit that it is a total insult and slap in the face to Silver Lake to give us, of all communities, the cheaper spin off and not the real thing. If any community deserves a PROPER full amenity full service Whole Foods Market it is Silver Lake. Give Glendale the 365 knock off for Pete’s sake.

I used to shop at the Ralphs b/c I found it a decent balance between quality and price. And it was convenient, which is the ruling factor for me. I had previously shunned the much-closer Vons since it always struck me as shabby and dinky. I’ve been pleasantly surprised, though, how much decent stuff they have crammed into this relatively small space. There is a good selection of organic produce (and they have an organic house-brand for many other things), the deli is great, and staff are super-friendly. At the same time, they still stock a huge variety of the ethnic food items that appeal to other neighborhood demographics.

The sad truth for all these markets, though, is that the parking lots are so small. It almost makes it worth going to Glendale or Burbank because their lots tend to be more spacious.

If WF has “streamlined.” I wonder what the plans are for the rest of that strip of stores? CVS is the only one left, other than the three in the lower parking lot; all those other businesses were forced out by greatly increased rents. What now?

Please keep your comments civil and on topic and refrain from personal attacks. The moderator reserves the right to edit or delete any comments. The Eastsider's Terms of Use and Privacy Policy apply to comments submitted by readers. Required fields are marked *